Bird restraining and releasing device



March 12, 1963 B. SCHROUGHAM 3, 0, 0

BIRD RESTRAINING AND RELEASING DEVICE Filed Feb. 20. 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. /4 58 fie/vro/v ScHmuG/IAM,

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A T7'0ENEK March 12, 1963 B. SCHROUGHAM 3,080,850

BIRD RESTRAINING AND RELEASING DEVICE Filed Feb. 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 551v 701v Scmz OdGHAI'Y,

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A TTOE/VEK March 12, 1963 B. SCHROUGHAM BIRD RESTRAINING AND RELEASING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 20, 1962 ylllll INVENTOR. I BENTON Scmeoueum, B

M Zia ATTaR/VEK witness a B IRDRESTRAINING AND nnrnasmonnvrcn Benton Schreugham 2438. 25th St, Beech Grove, 1nd. I Filed Feb. 20,1962, Ser..No.x174,461

I 3 Claims; (Cl. ;1 19 -15.6)

This invention relates to a bird restraining and releasing device for the training of bird dogs. More particularly,

. this invention relates to a device which will restrain a game bird in a comfortable and'natural position and will place the bird. in flight by catapulting it into the air when a release mechanism is operated.

In the trainin-gof'bird dogs, it is a common" practise to conceal a game bird such as aquail, pheasant, or pigeon, underneath bushy briars, weedy growth, or" other suitable cover, andpermit a bird dog to locate such concealed birds by scent. Once the bird dog has scented and "indicated the location of the bird by pointing, it is desirable tog'et the bird in flight without permitting the dog to catch the bird. If a dog catches a bird before it gets 1 i into flight, it-becomes more difiicult to teach the dog to remain steady on point to the flight of the bird and a subsequent gunshot. In order to cause the bird toremain concealed in'cover, it is sometimes necessary to dizzy the bird'by swinging'it in a circular motion before placing it in the cover, or to place its head under a wing. In either event, when it is attempted to flush the bird, it may flutter on the ground orbecome entangled in the briars or other cover, and thus be quite easily caught by the dog.

. In accordancewith the present invention, 1 have pro- ;"duceda' device which can very easily be concealed in suitable game bird cover, and which will hold or restrain abird in a norrnal,"comfortable position, without requiring any impairment of the birds physical or mental facilities. At any desired time a release mechanism can be set off by the trainer to result in placing the bird in a sure and rapid flight by gently tossing it high into the straining pocket of my device holds the bird securely and preventsanyfiapping of wings or other body movements which might permit the dog to locate the bird by sound rather than by scent. Still another advantage-of my invention is that the bird restraining pocket may be readily disengaged from the releasing mechanism. Thus the difliculty of holdingthe bird and trying to cook the device at the same time isavoided. Furthermore, a plurality of pockets may be loaded with birds, and the birds transported'in thennthus permitting anew bird to be-placed quickly and easily in the device after a previous bird has been put into flight.

One other advantage of my invention is thatv a very simple and effective trip-releasing mechanism is provided I .chuk ar partridges.

Other objects and features of my invention will become apparent frQ the more detailed description which follows, and from the accompanying. drawings. The drawings are merelyillustrat-ive, however, and changes may be made so longas the scope of the invention dis- .cl'osedherein is not violated.

Y which will permit the trainer to set off the release from I l to operate the release mechanism. As shown in'FiG. 1

Patented Mai-.712, 1963 ice , 2 reference to thedrawings: FIG. .1 is an isometric view of a device embodying the present invention with a bird held therein;

FIG. .2 is alongitudinal section of. the device in a" pocket. 1

Referring to FliSSIl and 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the inventionis shown as embodied in" a birdholdingand releasing device comprising a base member, which preferably ,is metal and comprises an elongated channel formed by spaced vertical walls 10 and 12. v The lower outer ends 53 and 60 of thewalls may be sharp and extended to facilitate piercing the ground to hold the device in an upright position. The walls in and 12 are held together by the pins or bolts 14, 16, 18 and 2t and spaced apart by the spacing members 62, 6d, 66, and 68. The vertically positioned bird pocket holding arms 22 and 24 are mounted on the base by means of the .pins or bolts 16 and 20. The securing pins 16 and. 2t) and the spacing members 66, and 63 serve as pivots to permit the arms 22 and 24 to be rotated. The lower ends of arrns'22 and 24 are provided with holesthrough which the ends of the spring dil are secured to said arms. The lower ends of the arms 22 and 24 are also connected to one another'by means of pins or bolts to the toggle joint comprising arms 38 and 4t which are pivoted together at th eir inn er ends in the center by means of the pin 42. The pin 42 is long enough to Contact the walls it) and 12 of the base when the inner ends of the toggle joint arms 33 and dti'drop below the center point at which their outer sides are connected'to the lower end of the ivertical arms 22 and 24. Thus the lower ends of the vertical arms 22 and 24 are held apart against the action of the. spring 49. When the inner ends of the toggle joint arms 38 and 40 are raised above the center point at which their outer ends are attached to the lower ends of the vertical arms 22 and 24, the spring 49 is free to act, and

,this result is brought about by a'release or tripping mechanis rn. The releasing or tripping mechanism is shown as elongated arm member or lever Z6 which is rotatably mounted to a base wall by means of a pin or bolt 36 to provide -a fulcrum point. The inner end of the trip arm 26 terminates under the toggle joint arm 33 (see spring 49 to act upon the ends of the vertical bird 'poeltet holding arms'22 and 24. A release or trip lever mechanism may, if desired, be provided on both ends of the device as shown in FIG. 1 trip lever arm 28. Additional tripping or releasing means are useful when it is desired to trip the device at a distance by means of a cord. This is shown as embodied in the plate member 30 which is mounted on the base by means of the connecting pin 16 and the spacing member 66 and directly about the trip lever arm 26. When the rope or cord 34 connected to the plate member 3a is pulled, the plate member rotates about the fulcrum pointprovided by pin 16 and the lower and tip of the plate depresses the lever arm 26 an additional such means 32 on the opposite end of the device may be used also.

Mounting means are provided on the upper ends of the vertical arms 22 and 24 for a bird-holding and releasing pocket, and they may comprise notches 48 and 50 adapted to secure an elongated member portion of the bird-holding pocket. The bird-holding pocket shown in F183. 1 and 2 includes a pair of rigid elongated rods 44 and 46, a sheet of flexible material 56 having its mutually opposite margins attached as illustrated to the elongated rods 44 and 46. Snap fasteners 72 serve to restrict the end openings of the pocket formed when the elongated members are brought together to hold a bird therein. The end openings may alternatively be restricted by elastic members 7%}. Central portions of the elongated rods of the bird-holding pocket are adapted to fit snugly in the notches 48 and 50 on the vertical arms, and the spacing members 52 and 54 aid in centering the pocket to maintain a horizontal position. If desired, the birdholding pocket may be permanently secured to the vertical arms rather than being removable.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 includes a base formed by the spaced walls 16' and 12'. It also includes a bottom member 83, end members 85! and 86 and partial top members 82 and 84. The space provided between these members serves to house the compression springs 49. The shaped rod members 88 and 9t) serve to hold the base walls together and to provide means for stabilizing the device in a vertical position when it rests on the ground. The vertically rotatable bird pocket holding arms 22' and 24' are mounted on the base walls by means of bolts or pivot pins 66' and 63'. The lower ends of arms 22' and 24 are connected to one another by means of a toggle joint mechanism comprising arms 38 and 40 and the center connecting pin 42" as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. The pin 42' is long enough to contact the walls 10' and 12 of the base when the inner ends of the toggle joint arms 33' and 40' drop below the center point at which their outer ends are connected to the lower end of the vertical bird pocket holding arms 22 and 24. When the center point of the toggle joint mechanism is in the lower position, the springs 49' are held in a compressed position against the lower ends of the vertical arms 22 and 24'. To permit the springs 49' to act, the toggle joint center pin 42' is raised to the higher position with the trip lever or release mechanism. The trip mechanism includes the lever arm member 26' movably mounted at a fulcrum point on the base wall. One end of said trip lever member terminates underneath the toggle joint pin 42' and the other extends out the end of the base. By depression of the outer end of the lever arm 26', the inner end is raised and moves the toggle joint pin 42' above center to permit the springs 49 to act.

In FIG. 6 a fragmentary section shows a trip or release mechanism on the opposite end of the device. This includes the lever arm 28 mounted on the base by means of pin 68 to provide a fulcrum point and showing the inner end of the lever arm being angled to terminate underneath the toggle joint center pin 42 when in a locked position. Depression of the lever arm 28' at its outer end will raise the inner end and move the toggle joint center pin 42 to an unlocked position. The vertically movable arm members 22 and 24' of this embodiment are curved somewhat to accommodate a bird-holding pocket. The lower ends of these arms are mounted on the base member through pins or bolts 66' and 68 to permit a rotation movement only at the fulcrum point. Their upper ends have notches 48 and 50' to permit mounting of a bird-holding pocket. In this embodiment a birdholding pocket 56' comprises a sheet of flexible material attached along its mutually opposite margins to a pair of rigid elongate members 92 and 94. The elongate members are shown as angle shaped and the flexible material is attached thereto by means of plates 96 and rivets 98.

' left free to facilitate mounting the elongate members in the notches 48 and 5t) on the vertical arms as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. The snap fasteners 72' provide means for restricting the end openings in the bird-holding pocket when the elognate members are brought together lengthwise.

In using the device illustrated in FIGS. land 2 for bird dog training purposes, the device is put into a cocked position by applying pressure with the foot or otherwise to the center of the toggle joint members to cause the center pin 42 to come to rest on the base walls 10 and 12. This will result in an extension of the spring 49 attached to the lower ends of the vertical bird-holding pocket arms 22 and 24. The upper end of these arms will be moved by this action from the position shown in dotted lines of FIG. 2 to the position shown in solid lines. Additional pressure by the application of ones foot will result in the sharpened ends 58 and 6t of the base penetratlngthe ground to securely hold the device in an upright position. When the upper ends of the vertical bird-holding pocket arms 22 and 24 are thus brought together, the elongate members 44 and 46 of the bird-holding pocket 56 will he brought together longitudinally. One end of the birdholding pocket 56 may now be restricted by fastening the snap fasteners 72. A game bird, such as a quad or pigeon, is now inserted into the pocket from the open end, and the snap fasteners 72 at this end are then closed to securely enclose the bird in the bird-holding pocket. Alternatively, when a bird-holding pocket is employed that uses elast c closing means at the ends thereof, as shown by the elastic member 7 t), the ends of the bird-holding pocket are automatically restricted when the elongate members of the pocket are brought together and it is only necessary to force one end apart in order to insert the bird. After the device is thus placed in a cocked position with the bltd held therein and concealed in suitable cover, the btrdcan be placed in flight at any desired time, as for example, whenthe dog being trained is stopped on point as a result of scenting the bird. The bird is placed in flight by the application of downward pressure to either of the tripping lever mechanisms 26 or 28 at its outer end, with the foot or by the hand. Such pressure will result in an action at the fulcrum point 36 where the lever is attached to the base resulting in a raising of the toggle joint mechanism by raising the center pin 42 and permit the spring 49 to rapidly act to bring the lower ends of the bird-holding pocket arms 22 and 24 together simultaneously with a rapid parting of the upper ends of said arms in a vert cal direction to result in a sudden opening of the bird holdlng pocket and thus toss or catapult the bird into the air. Since the bird-holding pocket 56 is detachable from the bird-holding arms 22 and 24, the bird to be utilized in the training device may be placed in a bird-holding pocket and the loaded bird-holding pocket then attached to the device after it has been placed in a cocked position.-

The modification of my device shown in FIGS. 4 and 5" is used in a manner similar to the one just described above In this modification, the toggle joint mechanism including" the arms 38, 40 and the center pivot pin 42', cause the lower ends of the vertical bird-holding pocket arms 22 and 24- to be held in a cocked position against compression springs 49. In this embodiment, the bird-holding pocket is attached along its mutually opposite margins to a pair of elongate members 94 and 92 which are substantially straight lengths of angle stock. This modification is placed in a cocked position by application of downward pressure to the toggle joint center portion, or by application of pressure to the upper ends of the bird pocket-holding arms 22 and 24' so that they are brought together as illustrated by the dotted lines in FIG. 6 and by the solid lines in FIG. 7. The bird-holding pocket in this modification, it is noted, will be substantially closed at the top when the elongate members 94 and 96 are brought together as shown in FIG. 7. Also, when the snap fasteners 72' are snapped together to restrict the ends of the bird-holding pocket 56', a bird contained thereinwill be completely concealed. A bird thus concealed may be catapulted in the air at any desired time by application of downward pressure to the lever tripping mechanism 26' which will cause the inner end of the lever to raise the toggle joint center upwardly and permit springs 49 to rapidly force the lower ends of the. birdholding pocket arms 22' and 24 together, and thus cause the upper ends of said arms to rapidly fly apart to open "the bird-holding pocket the distance permitted by the flexible material and catapult a bird held therein into. the air. Inthis embodiment also, the'bird-holding pocket may be .in position when the device is cocked, or a bird may be placed in a separate bird-holding pocket, the loaded pocket then mounted on the device afterit is placed in a cooked position. 1

It is to be appreciated that the device maybe tripped from a distance by thepulling of a cord or rope 34 at tached to a tripping member 30 which through a fulcrum action at the pin 16 will result in the application of pressure to the tripping'leversZG or 28. It should also be appreciated that the base portion of my device may be modified in order to insure its staying in an upright position when placed on the ground in a cocked position with a bird therein. The sharpened'ends 53 and 60 of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the rod'members 88 and 90 shown in FIG. 5, are merely illustrative methods of accomplishing this result.

It is also understood that in the construction of the flexible metallicscreen. Preferred flexible materials include woven nylon, and strong flexible metallic screen.

WhatIclaimis: I i '1. A bird restraining and releasing device comprising: anelongate base; a

a pair of vertical arms respectively pivotallym'ounted' onsaid base, saidpoints' of-rnounting beinghorizontally spaced apart on said base, said arms extend ing upwardlyfrom said points of mounting a sufiibird-holding pocket employed with my device that any suitable flexible material maybe employed including various types of woven cloth, synthetic sheet materials, and

cient distance to support a bird restraining pocket said arms also extending downwardly tromsaid 1'- points of mounting. on the base a distanc within said base to provide tulcrums at said mounting qpo s a a means forsecuring said bird restrainingpocket to said arms respectively at-points ne'ar the upper .ends

a ,50" l spring means positioned in saidbaseand adapted to act i 1 suddenly to bring the lower ends of said armsxtowar'd 7 locking means tar, .securingithe flower ends of said arms in a' spaced apart position opposing the action 1 Iofsaid springmeans; means tor' releasing said locking meansto permityaction of 'said spring means, a bird restraining and tossing pocket comprising a sheet offfiexible material;a pair of rigid elongate mem- .mutuallybpposite margins of saidsheet maenar are attached, the mutual i each oth'er and to provide action atfthe fulcrum. .apointsto move the upper ends of' said arms rapidly 6 ings in a pocket formed when said elongate members are held together lengthwise, whereby a bird in said pocketis confined therein, said restricting means adapted to be released when said elongate members are rapidly moved apart horizontally the distance permitted by the flexible sheet material whereby a bird therein is tossed. in an upward direction;

and'said pair of rigid elongate members respectively being securely mounted at right angles to and near the opposite upper ends of the said pair ofvertical arms respectively pivotally mounted on the base of said device.

2. A bird restraining and releasing device comprising: arirelongate base;

a pair of vertical arms respectively pivotally mounted on said base, said, points of mounting being hori zontally spaced apart on said base, said arms extending upwardly from said points of mounting a sufficient distance to' support a bird restraining pocket, said arms also extending downwardly from points; 7 i a means for securing said bird restraining pocket to said arms respectively at points near the upper ends thereof; spring means positioned in said base adapted to act suddenly to bring the lower ends of said arms toward each other and to provide action at the fulcrum points to move the upper ends of said arms rapidly away from each other; a toggle joint for securing the-lower ends of. said arms in aspaced apart position 'opposingthe action of said spring; means; means for moving the toggle joint off center to permit action of said spring means;

7 a bird restraining and tossing pocket comprising a sheet I i 3 I of flexiblematerial, a pair of rigid elongate mem- -i bers to and along the lengths of which respectively.

mutually opposite margins of said sheetmaterial are attached, theamutually opposite ends of said sheet material having snap fastening means forrestricting the end openings in a pocket formedwhen' said elongate members are held together lengthwise,

whereby a bird in said pocket is confined therein, said restricting means adapted to be released when saidjelongate members are rapidly moved apart) 1 horizontally the distance permitted by the flexible sheet material whereby a bird therein is tossed in an )upwarddirection;

' and saidmpa ir of rigid elongate members respectively [being securely mountedat right angles to and near the opposite upper ends of the. said pair of vertical {said device. 3

Theidevice as-defined in and byQcIaim :2 wherein jsaid bird restraining and tossing pocket is removably;

mounted on theupper ends for saidvcrti a a m References Cited-in the tile of'thitt patent, v i

,"UNITED, sr TEs'rATEN'rs" a :Voecks,

said points of mounting on the base a distance within said base to provide tulcrums at said mounting arms-respectively pivotallymouritedon the ba se of Apr. 18,1950

r June-16,1953 a. Mar. 15,19551 

1. A BIRD RESTRAINING AND RELEASING DEVICE COMPRISING: AN ELONGATE BASE; A PAIR OF VERTICAL ARMS RESPECTIVELY PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, SAID POINTS OF MOUNTING BEING HORIZONTALLY SPACED APART ON SAID BASE, SAID ARMS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID POINTS OF MOUNTING A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE TO SUPPORT A BIRD RESTRAINING POCKET, SAID ARMS ALSO EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID POINTS OF MOUNTING ON THE BASE A DISTANCE WITHIN SAID BASE TO PROVIDE FULCRUMS AT SAID MOUNTING POINTS; MEANS FOR SECURING SAID BIRD RESTRAINING POCKET TO SAID ARMS RESPECTIVELY AT POINTS NEAR THE UPPER ENDS THEREOF; SPRING MEANS POSITIONED IN SAID BASE AND ADAPTED TO ACT SUDDENLY TO BRING THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID ARMS TOWARD EACH OTHER AND TO PROVIDE ACTION AT THE FULCRUM POINTS TO MOVE THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID ARMS RAPIDLY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER; LOCKING MEANS FOR SECURING THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID ARMS IN A SPACED APART POSITION OPPOSING THE ACTION OF SAID SPRING MEANS; MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID LOCKING MEANS TO PERMIT ACTION OF SAID SPRING MEANS; A BIRD RESTRAINING AND TOSSING POCKET COMPRISING A SHEET OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL, A PAIR OF RIGID ELONGATE MEMBERS TO AND ALONG THE LENGTHS OF WHICH RESPECTIVELY MUTUALLY OPPOSITE MARGINS OF SAID SHEET MATERIAL ARE ATTACHED, THE MUTUALLY OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SHEET MATERIAL HAVING MEANS FOR RESTRICTING THE END OPENINGS IN A POCKET FORMED WHEN SAID ELONGATE MEMBERS ARE HELD TOGETHER LENGTHWISE, WHEREBY A BIRD IN SAID POCKET IS CONFINED THEREIN, SAID RESTRICTING MEANS ADAPTED TO BE RELEASED WHEN SAID ELONGATE MEMBERS ARE RAPIDLY MOVED APART HORIZONTALLY THE DISTANCE PERMITTED BY THE FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL WHEREBY A BIRD THEREIN IS TOSSED IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION; AND SAID PAIR OF RIGID ELONGATE MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY BEING SECURELY MOUNTED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO AND NEAR THE OPPOSITE UPPER ENDS OF THE SAID PAIR OF VERTICAL ARMS RESPECTIVELY PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE BASE OF SAID DEVICE. 